Country profile

New Zealand: Costs, Safety, Relocation and Quality of Life

New Zealand is especially relevant in the Nomadino comparison when comparing residence, visas and settling abroad as well as social freedom, participation and openness. The current data points to a strong overall picture; its strongest main categories are Relocation & Residency and Society & Participation, while Welcome Culture for Foreigners, LGBTQ+ Friendliness and Equal Treatment stand out at topic level. Before making a decision, check everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as climate, leisure, nature and day-to-day lifestyle more closely, because the largest deductions come from Food & Basic Goods, Dining & Going Out and Personal Services.

Overall rating 74.30 points
Global rank Rank 13 globally
Continental rank Rank 1 in Oceania

View main country ranking

Decision areas

The following entry points link directly to detailed articles that are especially relevant for relocation, longer stays, daily life and travel planning.

Key questions about New Zealand

Why is New Zealand especially relevant in this comparison?

The profile is shaped mainly by residence, visas and settling abroad as well as social freedom, participation and openness; its strongest main categories are Relocation & Residency and Society & Participation.

Which topics stand out positively for New Zealand?

Welcome Culture for Foreigners, LGBTQ+ Friendliness and Equal Treatment show the strongest topic-level results.

What should be checked before making a decision?

everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as climate, leisure, nature and day-to-day lifestyle deserve closer attention; the largest deductions come from Food & Basic Goods, Dining & Going Out and Personal Services.

How important is relocation, residence and settling in for New Zealand?

The detailed articles below help check whether the rating fits residence, work, costs, healthcare, safety or travel.

Strengths and weaknesses

This section only shows categories, topic areas and indicators where New Zealand ranks in the top three or bottom three globally or continentally and shares the same score with no more than two other countries. Global ranks take priority over continental ranks.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Comparisons and related countries

New Zealand is especially useful to compare with Portugal, Spain and Germany, because those countries sit closer to its overall rating profile. United States and Denmark work as contrast comparisons when residence, visas and settling abroad as well as social freedom, participation and openness need to be weighed against different priorities; everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as climate, leisure, nature and day-to-day lifestyle still deserve closer attention.

Static comparisons

Frequently asked questions: New Zealand

New Zealand: what is the cost profile?

The Costs category currently stands at 39 out of 100 points. High values mean lower or more manageable everyday cost conditions. The details are linked in the cost ranking.

New Zealand: what is the safety profile?

The Safety & Risk category currently stands at 82 out of 100 points. High values mean a more favorable safety and risk profile. The individual topics are linked in the safety ranking.

All ratings and indicators for New Zealand

58 topic areas and 342 indicators are linked directly in the static HTML. Categories and topic areas are collapsed to keep the country profile easy to scan.

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Safety & Risk ShowHide

Safety & Crime

6 indicators

79
/ 100
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Homicide Rate
Rank 73 globally 93
Petty Crime Index
Rank 46 globally 72
Women's Safety
Rank 11 globally 85
Organized Crime
Rank 38 globally 67
Kidnapping Risk
Rank 8 globally 95
BAC Limit (โ€ฐ)
Rank 123 globally 38
94
/ 100
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Active Conflicts & War Risk
Rank 98 globally 95
Political Violence
Rank 12 globally 91
Geopolitical Risk
Rank 4 globally 96
Terrorism Risk
Rank 125 globally 99

Natural Hazards

8 indicators

52
/ 100
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Flood Risk
Rank 104 globally 49
Storm Risk
Rank 94 globally 77
Earthquake Risk
Rank 209 globally 22
Drought Risk
Rank 20 globally 86
Wildfire Risk
Rank 71 globally 62
Landslide Risk
Rank 175 globally 38
Tsunami Risk
Rank 208 globally 22
Volcano Risk
Rank 216 globally 26

Privacy & Surveillance

6 indicators

86
/ 100
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State Surveillance
Rank 29 globally 81
Internet Censorship
Rank 18 globally 89
Internet Freedom
Rank 12 globally 88
Data Protection Laws
Rank 36 globally 89
VPN Access
Rank 16 globally 91
Cybercrime Risk
Rank 10 globally 81
86
/ 100
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Rule of Law
Rank 8 globally 88
Property Rights Security
Rank 5 globally 90
Corruption Perception
Rank 9 globally 81
Police Effectiveness
Rank 10 globally 87
Expropriation Risk
Rank 3 globally 93
Extradition Risk
Rank 86 globally 46

Long-Term Stability

4 indicators

82
/ 100
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Political Stability
Rank 8 globally 88
Economic Resilience
Rank 26 globally 76
Government Efficiency
Rank 9 globally 88
Climate Vulnerability
Rank 24 globally 77
โค๏ธ Health ShowHide

Healthcare & Access

12 indicators

79
/ 100
ShowHide
Healthcare Quality
Rank 24 globally 78
Universal Healthcare Coverage
Rank 16 globally 85
Emergency Care
Rank 23 globally 79
Medicine Access
Rank 18 globally 82
Hospital Infections & Patient Safety
Rank 14 globally 85
Health Insurance for Foreigners
Rank 21 globally 78
Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure
Rank 56 globally 84
Doctor Density
Rank 39 globally 76
Hospital Beds
Rank 103 globally 42
Healthcare Coverage (%)
Rank 1 globally 100
Specialist Visit Cost
Rank 189 globally 32
English-Speaking Doctors
Rank 4 globally 91

Environmental Health

6 indicators

84
/ 100
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Fine Particulate Matter Exposure (PM2.5)
Rank 12 globally 97
Noise Pollution
Rank 6 globally 81
UV Radiation
Rank 61 globally 53
Tap Water Safety
Rank 1 globally 100
Sanitation
Rank 57 globally 90
Waste Management
Rank 89 globally 50
78
/ 100
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Life Expectancy
Rank 36 globally 91
Infectious Diseases
Rank 9 globally 92
Obesity Rate
Rank 182 globally 58
Infant Mortality (per 1,000)
Rank 46 globally 69
Mental Health
Rank 27 globally 74
Suicide Rate
Rank 163 globally 47
Maternal Mortality
Rank 36 globally 94
Vaccination Rate
Rank 116 globally 89
Alcohol & Tobacco Consumption
Rank 154 globally 56
Drug and Substance-Use Burden
Rank 194 globally 66
๐Ÿ’ธ Finance & Taxes ShowHide

Taxes & Finance

10 indicators

67
/ 100
ShowHide
Effective Income Tax Rate (%)
Rank 189 globally 65
Top Income Tax Rate
Rank 169 globally 38
Social Security Burden
Rank 1 globally 100
VAT / GST Rate
Rank 99 globally 53
Capital Gains Tax
Rank 1 globally 100
Dividend Tax Rate
Rank 220 globally 30
Inheritance / Estate Tax
Rank 1 globally 100
Territorial Tax System
Rank 79 globally 49
Tax Filing Effort (hours/year)
Rank 82 globally 74
Double Taxation Agreements
Rank 73 globally 60
77
/ 100
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Capital Flow Freedom
Rank 22 globally 75
Capital Market Depth
Rank 30 globally 76
Business Credit Access
Rank 10 globally 82
Investor Protection
Rank 12 globally 81
Foreign Investment Openness
Rank 79 globally 64
Currency Convertibility & Transferability
Rank 50 globally 77
Venture Capital & Startup Financing
Rank 4 globally 84
Alternative Financing Access
Rank 12 globally 84

Banking & Fintech

8 indicators

74
/ 100
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Expat Banking Ease
Rank 16 globally 73
Banking Stability
Rank 43 globally 82
SWIFT / Wire Access
Rank 14 globally 91
Fintech Development
Rank 31 globally 95
ATM Availability
Rank 114 globally 76
Banking Secrecy Index
Rank 224 globally 27
Automatic Tax Information Exchange
Rank 176 globally 5
Cash Transaction Limit
Rank 1 globally 100

Bitcoin & Crypto

6 indicators

60
/ 100
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Crypto Adoption
Rank 44 globally 49
Crypto Regulation
Rank 43 globally 75
Legal Status
Rank 16 globally 86
Bitcoin Merchant Acceptance
Rank 20 globally 55
Crypto Tax Rate
Rank 222 globally 22
Bitcoin Cash Access
Rank 8 globally 55

Real Estate & Property

4 indicators

39
/ 100
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Foreigner Ownership Rights
Rank 172 globally 20
Transaction Costs
Rank 30 globally 85
Affordability
Rank 212 globally 28
Gross Rental Yield
Rank 184 globally 40
71
/ 100
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Corporate Tax Rate
Rank 169 globally 30
Cost to Start a Business
Rank 6 globally 97
Labor Market Flexibility
Rank 20 globally 69
Days to Register a Company
Rank 1 globally 100

Macroeconomics

9 indicators

77
/ 100
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GDP per Capita (PPP, USD)
Rank 45 globally 80
Inflation Rate (CPI, %)
Rank 94 globally 89
Public Debt (% of GDP)
Rank 96 globally 64
GDP Growth Rate (%)
Rank 177 globally 68
Economic Freedom Index
Rank 11 globally 79
Tax Burden (% of GDP)
Rank 79 globally 93
Central Bank Independence
Rank 2 globally 92
Foreign Exchange Reserves (months of imports)
Rank 156 globally 52
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)
Rank 157 globally 62
83
/ 100
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Avg. Monthly Net Salary ($/month)
Rank 18 globally 86
Purchasing Power Index
Rank 29 globally 77
Unemployment Rate (%)
Rank 107 globally 77
Wage Growth Rate (%)
Rank 38 globally 81
Salary-to-Rent Ratio
Rank 11 globally 94
Minimum Wage (USD/month)
Rank 13 globally 90
๐Ÿ  Costs ShowHide

Housing & Utilities

5 indicators

43
/ 100
ShowHide
City Rent per Square Meter
Rank 192 globally 24
Rural Rent per Square Meter
Rank 188 globally 40
Electricity Cost
Rank 131 globally 62
Heating & Gas Cost
Rank 200 globally 56
Water & Sewage Cost
Rank 214 globally 60

Food & Basic Goods

7 indicators

24
/ 100
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Milk Price per Liter
Rank 192 globally 25
Bread Price per 500 Grams
Rank 174 globally 33
Egg Price for 12 Eggs
Rank 228 globally 2
Chicken Fillet Price per Kilogram
Rank 192 globally 35
Beef Round Price per Kilogram
Rank 172 globally 42
Vegetable Basket Price per Kilogram
Rank 214 globally 13
Water Price per Liter in Supermarket
Rank 169 globally 42

Dining & Going Out

9 indicators

35
/ 100
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Price of an Inexpensive Restaurant Meal
Rank 197 globally 32
Burger Menu Price
Rank 199 globally 38
Cappuccino (Cafรฉ)
Rank 207 globally 29
Local Beer (Restaurant)
Rank 194 globally 36
Local Beer Price in a Market
Rank 200 globally 46
Imported Beer Price in a Market
Rank 207 globally 39
Cocktail (Bar)
Rank 195 globally 27
Mid-Range Wine Bottle Price
Rank 157 globally 46
Soft Drink Price in a Market
Rank 208 globally 24

Mobility Costs

7 indicators

44
/ 100
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Transit Cost
Rank 220 globally 22
Fuel Price ($/L)
Rank 227 globally 12
Car Rental ($/day)
Rank 213 globally 55
Car Insurance ($/yr)
Rank 208 globally 57
Car Purchase Index
Rank 17 globally 72
Driving License Cost ($)
Rank 170 globally 81
City Parking ($/hr)
Rank 204 globally 63
51
/ 100
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Internet Cost
Rank 147 globally 50
Mobile Plan Cost
Rank 173 globally 47
Prepaid SIM & Data Package Cost
Rank 180 globally 55
eSIM & Travel Data Cost
Rank 175 globally 69
Coworking Day Pass Cost
Rank 189 globally 45

Personal Services

4 indicators

39
/ 100
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Haircut Cost
Rank 212 globally 35
Fitness Club Monthly Fee
Rank 207 globally 42
Laundry & Dry Cleaning Cost
Rank 197 globally 47
Local Services Cost
Rank 212 globally 33
๐Ÿ—๏ธ Infrastructure ShowHide
60
/ 100
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Logistics Performance
Rank 27 globally 70
Rail Network Density
Rank 53 globally 46
Airport Connectivity
Rank 32 globally 73
Port Connectivity
Rank 57 globally 35
70
/ 100
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Road Quality
Rank 32 globally 80
Traffic Congestion
Rank 87 globally 56
Road Density
Rank 106 globally 58
Traffic Deaths
Rank 52 globally 86
EV Charging Infrastructure
Rank 25 globally 68

Electricity & Energy

6 indicators

93
/ 100
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Power Outages
Rank 19 globally 98
Electrification Rate
Rank 1 globally 100
Energy Self-Sufficiency
Rank 14 globally 90
Renewable Energy Share
Rank 24 globally 82
CO2 Intensity
Rank 17 globally 87
Nuclear Exposure
Rank 1 globally 100
85
/ 100
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Broadband Speed
Rank 35 globally 83
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions
Rank 31 globally 95
Mobile Speed
Rank 11 globally 88
5G Coverage
Rank 27 globally 65

Public Transport

4 indicators

66
/ 100
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Transit Coverage
Rank 46 globally 65
Transit Punctuality
Rank 36 globally 75
Cycling Infrastructure
Rank 22 globally 55
Walkability Score
Rank 33 globally 68
๐ŸŒฟ Lifestyle ShowHide

Work-Life Balance

5 indicators

65
/ 100
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Annual Working Hours
Rank 58 globally 67
Paid Vacation Days
Rank 81 globally 67
Happiness Index (UN)
Rank 13 globally 73
Burnout Risk
Rank 26 globally 70
Public Holidays
Rank 92 globally 48

Climate & Weather

6 indicators

69
/ 100
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Temperature Comfort
Rank 148 globally 54
Sunshine Hours
Rank 182 globally 64
Humidity Comfort
Rank 94 globally 71
Rainy Days
Rank 118 globally 64
Extreme Heat Days
Rank 1 globally 100
Seasonal Variation
Rank 118 globally 75

Outdoor & Lifestyle

5 indicators

79
/ 100
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Beach Quality
Rank 64 globally 73
Mountain Access
Rank 16 globally 81
Protected Land Area (%)
Rank 1 globally 100
Biodiversity Index
Rank 48 globally 76
Forest Cover
Rank 89 globally 50

Leisure & Recreation

4 indicators

85
/ 100
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Sports & Fitness Facilities
Rank 14 globally 87
Urban Green Space Access
Rank 7 globally 89
Leisure Infrastructure
Rank 18 globally 82
Recovery Time
Rank 37 globally 81

Arts & Entertainment

6 indicators

67
/ 100
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Museums per 100,000 People
Rank 25 globally 80
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Rank 85 globally 22
Music & Nightlife
Rank 19 globally 70
Cinema Density
Rank 18 globally 77
Cultural Freedom
Rank 6 globally 90
Football and Stadium Culture
Rank 84 globally 69
60
/ 100
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Cuisine Diversity
Rank 43 globally 54
Restaurant Density
Rank 39 globally 67
Street Food Scene
Rank 55 globally 52
Local Market Quality
Rank 41 globally 64
Cafรฉ Culture
Rank 36 globally 62
Local Freshness
Rank 44 globally 70
Local Authenticity
Rank 56 globally 48

Family-Friendly

7 indicators

65
/ 100
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Childcare Cost ($/month)
Rank 212 globally 41
Paid Parental Leave (weeks)
Rank 45 globally 50
Child Benefit ($/month)
Rank 25 globally 59
Child Poverty Rate (%)
Rank 49 globally 86
Child Safety Score
Rank 19 globally 86
Childcare Coverage (%)
Rank 26 globally 48
Playground Density
Rank 16 globally 86

Pet-Friendly

7 indicators

55
/ 100
ShowHide
Pet Entry Rules
Rank 193 globally 25
Veterinary Quality
Rank 16 globally 88
Vet Cost Affordability
Rank 218 globally 20
Pet Food Prices
Rank 176 globally 40
Animal Welfare Laws
Rank 11 globally 82
Pet-Friendly Housing
Rank 132 globally 45
Outdoor Pet Access
Rank 12 globally 82
โœˆ๏ธ Relocation & Residency ShowHide
84
/ 100
ShowHide
Residence Permit Ease
Rank 21 globally 86
E-Government
Rank 20 globally 91
Visa Processing Time
Rank 133 globally 55
Local Registration Requirements
Rank 3 globally 97
Foreign Document & Qualification Recognition
Rank 8 globally 94
Household Goods & Customs
Rank 27 globally 80
International Licence Compatibility
Rank 23 globally 92
82
/ 100
ShowHide
Visa-Free Tourist Stay Days
Rank 38 globally 75
Visa Application Ease
Rank 6 globally 89
Border Openness
Rank 62 globally 84
Travel & Entry Comfort
Rank 28 globally 85
Visa Income & Asset Requirements
Rank 184 globally 72
78
/ 100
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Digital Nomad Visa
Rank 67 globally 47
Remote Work Legality
Rank 22 globally 79
Freelance Legal Framework
Rank 2 globally 97
Remote Job Market
Rank 3 globally 98
Coworking Density
Rank 37 globally 71
Nomad Community
Rank 25 globally 74
Avg. Remote Salary (USD)
Rank 13 globally 93
91
/ 100
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Work Rights for Foreigners
Rank 17 globally 92
Work Permit Access for Foreigners
Rank 12 globally 90
Local Self-Employment and Freelancing Rights
Rank 2 globally 94
Employment Restrictions for Foreigners
Rank 23 globally 88
Professional Qualification Recognition
Rank 8 globally 95
Business Ownership by Foreigners
Rank 23 globally 89
92
/ 100
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Time to Permanent Residency or Citizenship
Rank 1 globally 100
Family Reunification
Rank 2 globally 99
Naturalization Requirements
Rank 2 globally 95
Residence Status Stability
Rank 6 globally 97
Residence Status for Spouses and Children
Rank 11 globally 95
Passport Power (Henley Index)
Rank 48 globally 94
Dual Citizenship Allowed
Rank 1 globally 100
Citizenship by Investment
Rank 13 globally 0

Language & Integration

7 indicators

92
/ 100
ShowHide
English Proficiency (EF EPI)
Rank 4 globally 99
Local Language Barrier
Rank 1 globally 100
Integration Ease
Rank 1 globally 100
Cultural Etiquette Gap
Rank 1 globally 100
Expat Community Size
Rank 21 globally 69
Cultural Distance to West
Rank 1 globally 100
International Schools
Rank 27 globally 64
99
/ 100
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Expat Welcome Culture
Rank 1 globally 100
Foreigner Discrimination
Rank 7 globally 97
Xenophobia Levels
Rank 1 globally 100
Racial Safety for Foreigners
Rank 2 globally 98
91
/ 100
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Rental Access for Foreigners
Rank 1 globally 100
Tax Residency Clarity for Expats
Rank 18 globally 79
Local Contracts and Utilities Access
Rank 9 globally 92
Local Identity and Address Proof
Rank 13 globally 89
Everyday Accounts and Payments for Foreigners
Rank 9 globally 93
๐Ÿ–๏ธ Travel & Vacation ShowHide
89
/ 100
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Hotel Quality
Rank 25 globally 85
Vacation Rental Quality
Rank 6 globally 97
Accommodation Availability
Rank 26 globally 79
Booking & Transparency
Rank 9 globally 96

Tourism Infrastructure

4 indicators

90
/ 100
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Airport-to-Destination Transfer
Rank 36 globally 76
Digital Travel Services
Rank 25 globally 89
Traveler Payment Infrastructure
Rank 12 globally 95
Tourist Information Quality
Rank 3 globally 98
86
/ 100
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Major Attractions Density
Rank 31 globally 71
Guided Tours & Bookable Experiences
Rank 10 globally 94
Tourist Outdoor Activities
Rank 2 globally 97
Nightlife & Entertainment for Visitors
Rank 23 globally 83
92
/ 100
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Tourist Beach Quality
Rank 32 globally 88
Swimming & Water Sports
Rank 5 globally 95
National Parks & Nature Access
Rank 4 globally 94

Vacation Costs

5 indicators

53
/ 100
ShowHide
Hotel Cost
Rank 194 globally 55
Vacation Rental Cost
Rank 194 globally 57
Attraction Entry Cost
Rank 202 globally 47
Tour & Activity Cost
Rank 205 globally 52
Tourist Taxes & Fees
Rank 212 globally 51
83
/ 100
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High-Season Overcrowding
Rank 68 globally 88
Off-Season Usability
Rank 26 globally 85
Seasonal Capacity Shortage
Rank 36 globally 81
Seasonal Price Surcharges
Rank 206 globally 74
๐ŸŒ Society & Participation ShowHide

Society & Freedom

4 indicators

91
/ 100
ShowHide
Press Freedom
Rank 19 globally 80
Democracy Index
Rank 2 globally 96
Personal Freedom
Rank 2 globally 89
Freedom of Political Expression
Rank 10 globally 93

Education & Knowledge

5 indicators

91
/ 100
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Adult Literacy Rate
Rank 4 globally 99
PISA Score
Rank 12 globally 78
Tertiary Enrollment Rate
Rank 19 globally 80
Education Expenditure
Rank 1 globally 100
School Life Expectancy
Rank 1 globally 100
73
/ 100
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Pension Replacement Rate (%)
Rank 41 globally 67
Unemployment Benefit Duration (months)
Rank 25 globally 50
Social Spending (% of GDP)
Rank 27 globally 67
Gini Index
Rank 33 globally 80
Poverty Rate (%)
Rank 32 globally 75
Housing Support Score
Rank 21 globally 74
Social Mobility Score
Rank 13 globally 77
Social Cohesion
Rank 10 globally 87
95
/ 100
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Gender Equality
Rank 4 globally 91
Womenโ€™s Rights & Equality
Rank 5 globally 94
Anti-Discrimination Protection
Rank 5 globally 98
Minority Rights Protection
Rank 2 globally 99
Everyday Discrimination Risk
Rank 4 globally 97

LGBTQ+ Friendliness

5 indicators

95
/ 100
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Same-Sex Legal Status
Rank 7 globally 99
LGBTQ+ Anti-Discrimination
Rank 11 globally 93
LGBTQ+ Social Acceptance
Rank 7 globally 94
LGBTQ+ Rights
Rank 10 globally 94
Pride Culture
Rank 6 globally 95
89
/ 100
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Disability Support Score
Rank 14 globally 89
Public Accessibility
Rank 15 globally 87
Digital Accessibility
Rank 16 globally 86
Inclusion in Education and Work
Rank 9 globally 94

Religion & Worldviews

4 indicators

79
/ 100
ShowHide
Religious Freedom Index
Rank 8 globally 92
Secularization Score
Rank 18 globally 70
Religious Diversity Index
Rank 12 globally 58
Religious Influence in Public Life
Rank 12 globally 82

Demography

10 indicators

68
/ 100
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Median Age
Rank 162 globally 43
Fertility Rate
Rank 67 globally 85
Population Growth
Rank 72 globally 50
Net Migration Rate
Rank 50 globally 60
Urbanization Rate
Rank 46 globally 85
Foreign Population Share
Rank 32 globally 85
Population Density
Rank 33 globally 76
Gender Ratio (F/100 M)
Rank 71 globally 57
Youth Gender Ratio (15-29)
Rank 53 globally 90
Single-Person Households
Rank 61 globally 51